According to Gainesville, Fla., police records obtained by the Sentinel, Hernandez, a 17-year-old underage freshman at the time, had hit the bouncer so hard that he caused a broken ear drum. Because Hernandez was not present when police arrived on the scene at The Swamp bar after the April 28 incident, Tebow was questioned for details about it.

Hernandez reportedly got into the fight after consuming two alcohol drinks for which he didn't pay. When the bouncer yelled at him, he responded by "punching him in the side of the head."

Tebow not only witnessed the altercation, but he worked to "resolve the conflict." That included urging Hernandez to leave the bar in peace and making arrangements to cover Hernandez's tab. Police, however, found Hernandez later and described him as being "very polite and professional."

Long before they were briefly on the Patriots' roster together, Tebow and Hernandez, as star QB and tight end for Florida's powerhouse college program under Urban Meyer, became close friends. After the incident, Hernandez and Tebow said they had both called Meyer about it. Although the Sentinel reports Gainesville police wanted to charge Hernandez with a felony, it's "unclear how the case was resolved."

Tebow remains with New England heading into training camp after being signed last month. Hernandez was released last week after he was arrested by Massachusetts police, shortly before he was charged with the first-degree murder of Odin Lloyd. Hernandez is also being investigated for his alleged involvement in a separate double homicide.